Promotion of social and economic innovations and entrepreneurship in Izhma region.

In early fall 2010 a gentleman agreement of cooperation in local community and economic development was signed between the thematic network on local and regional development of the University of the Arctic and Izvatas, the komi-izhemsty people’s main interest organization. The foundation for the Izhma development partnership and workshops was laid in October last year at the international Gargia conference for regional development in Alta, Norway. After start-up funding was secured from the Norwe- gian Barents Secretariat, the Izhma development partnership was established and detail planning of the development program for 2011 started. At public meetings organized in the Izhma Region last December more than 30 new social and economic projects were registered among the local participants, and the number is increasing every day. The main focus of the development workshops and the business school will be on these projects and the people behind them. The goal of the Izhma development partnership and workshops is first of all to help start new businesses and develop already existing businesses in the region by joining the forces of local public authorities, business community and civil society, and external development agencies, among others the Komi Business Incubator and the universities in Syktyvkar and Ukhta.The Komi-izhemtsy people have through history shown a remarkable capacity of combining traditional and modern cultural ideas and values, and local community and economic development based on the same ideas and values, and last but not the least social and economic innovation and entrepreneurship. Their assets are many, not only human and social capital. The unique nature of Izhma Region with its numerous natural reserves can be th basis for ecological sustainable touristic and sport-educational activities. Also reindeer herding and agriculture, as well as communicational infrastructure and social services, have a great potential for development.

Action plan 2011:
June 3 — Local Development workshop in Sizyabsk;
June 4 — Local Development workshop in Diyur;
June 5 — Regional Development Workshop in Izhma, the regional center;
June 6-14 — Summer Business School in Izhma, the regional centre;
Sept. 12-14 — Evaluation and learning workshop in Izhma;
Octob. 19-23 — Gargia conference 2011: Sport, Tourism and Place Development;
November 25-27 — Presentation of final report on Izhma development program 2011.

Representatives from the neighbor regions of Ust-tsylma and Sosnogorsk, where Thematic Network is planning to continue its development work on based on the experience from Northern Norway, Yakutia and now Izhma, in addition to observers from Arkhangelsk and Murmansk will be present.

Contact persons:
Izhma Development Partnership: Nikolay Rochev, leader of Izvatas, tel. 89042744600, rochev@izvatas.ru;
Thematic Network on Local and Regional Development, The University of the Arctic: Leader Tor Gjertsen, tel. +4778450275, tor.gjertsen@hifm.no (www.hifm.no/regional);
Project coordinator Valeria Golubeva tel. +4747441510, valgolubeva@gmail.com.